Sweet peppers are non-pungent peppers with Scoville Heat Units (SHU) ranging from 0 to 700. The sweet pepper varieties lack capsaicin, the compound responsible for the spiciness of peppers. Due to their sweet taste, these peppers have become popular for green vegetable cultivation worldwide [1] [21].
Step into the enticing realm of sweet pepper varieties! Bursting with a vibrant palette of colors and tantalizing flavors, these delectable gems have been a beloved favorite among culinary enthusiasts and green-thumbed gardeners for generations. Whether it’s the rich reds, sunny yellows, or warm oranges, sweet peppers are a delightful addition to any dish, infusing it with their unique sweetness and mild tang. Join us to explore the diverse world of sweet pepper varieties as we uncover their distinct characteristics and the endless possibilities they bring to our culinary creations. Prepare to be amazed by these delightful peppers’ versatility and mouthwatering appeal!
Key Takeaways
- Bell peppers are versatile and add natural sweetness and crunch to various culinary creations [3].
- Cherry peppers, ranging from 100-500 SHU, are small, sweet, red, and rich in carotenoids, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds [4] [24].
- Cubanelle peppers, with Scoville unit 100 – 900, are flavorful and change color from yellow-green to red when ripe [5] [17].
- Shishito peppers are sweet chili peppers popularly cultivated in Japan [7].
- Italian Pepperoncini plants produce 3- to 4-inch-long sweet fruit with a relative Scoville rating of 100-500 [18].
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers, belong to the Solanaceae family. Bell peppers are a delightful warm-season crop native to Mexico, Central and South America. They have zero Scoville heat units, making them pleasant to eat [2]. Bell peppers offer a nice, slightly watery crunch [3]. They have high vitamin C content, making them an excellent source of this essential nutrient [6]. Surprisingly, red bell peppers contain more than twice the amount of vitamin C by weight compared to oranges [16]. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant benefiting our health [20].
Like charming Christmas ornaments in the vegetable world, bell peppers display a glossy appearance and come in vivid colors such as green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown, and black. Let’s explore some sweet bell pepper varieties:
Red Bell Pepper
Red bell peppers are remarkably sweet, almost like fruit [3]. They’re packed with ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and essential phenolic compounds, making them highly nutritious [8]. Moreover, red bell pepper extracts have shown antifungal activity against certain fungal strains due to their phenolic content that can disrupt fungal cell walls [9]. These peppers are incredibly versatile in the kitchen, adding a natural sweetness and vibrant color to dishes. Sweet red bell peppers are a true culinary staple that offers delightful flavors and valuable health benefits.
Orange Bell Pepper
Orange peppers are notably sweet and almost fruity [3]. Compared to yellow or green bell peppers, red and orange ones have significantly higher levels of TPC (total phenolic compounds). Among them, orange bell peppers have the highest radical scavenging and total antioxidant activity [10]. A diet rich in antioxidants can potentially lower the risk of various diseases, including heart disease. These valuable compounds work by scavenging free radicals in our body, thereby preventing or reducing the damage caused by oxidation [11]. Their bright orange color adds visual appeal to any meal and perfectly complements various flavors, making them ideal for stuffing or roasting.
Yellow Bell Pepper
Yellow bell peppers offer a delightful sweetness akin to fruits [3]. Yellow bell peppers are abundant in bioactive compounds like carotenoids, vitamin C, phenolics, and flavonoids, offering health benefits such as shielding cells from oxidative damage, and may contribute to preventing cardiovascular issues, cataracts, and diabetes. They are also low in calories [22]. Furthermore, yellow bell pepper extracts find use as natural pigments in isotonic drinks [9]. Their sunny yellow hue brings brightness and cheerfulness to raw and cooked dishes, making them a favored addition to salads and fajitas, elevating flavor and visual appeal to our meals.
Pimento Pepper
Pimento, also spelled pimiento, has a scoville range of 0-500 [19] [5]. The spelling confusion arises because the Spanish word for pepper is “pimiento,” while the anglicized version is “pimento.” It is a heart-shaped, thick-walled fruit that starts green and turns red when ripe [12]. The ‘Pimento’ variety typically has medium, elongated fruits measuring 2 to 4½ inches in length and 2 to 3½ inches in width.
These fleshy peppers are abundant in seeds [23]. Unlike bell peppers, pimento has no spiciness and is sweeter. It’s used in processed foods like pimiento cheese and stuffed olives, but you can also enjoy it fresh [12].
Cherry Pepper
Sweet peppers, including cherry peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), are well-loved worldwide [13]. Cherry peppers are especially appealing with their small size, sweet taste, and vibrant red color when ripe due to the presence of carotenoids. They are also packed with essential nutrients like vitamin C and various beneficial compounds such as flavonoids, capsaicinoids, and phenolic acids. Despite their rich antioxidant content and cultivation in different regions across the globe, cherry peppers’ consumption and commercial growth are not as widespread. However, they are commercially produced in the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia [4].
Cubanelle Pepper
Sweet peppers, such as the Cubanelle pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), enjoy popularity worldwide [13]. The Italian or Cubanelle variety offers a delightful sweetness and mild spiciness blend. These peppers are long and somewhat flattened, and as they mature, they transition from yellow-green to orange, finally ripening to a vibrant red [5]. Their flavorful taste and colorful transformation make them a favorite in various cuisines and dishes across the globe.
Shishito Pepper
Shishito is a sweet chili pepper variety widely grown in Japan [7]. Due to their low spiciness, they are commonly used as a vegetable [14]. They are often grilled or pan-fried with a sprinkle of salt, bringing out their unique flavors and textures. Additionally, they are incorporated into stir-fries, tempura, and other traditional Japanese recipes, adding a mild kick to the overall taste profile.
Banana Pepper
Banana peppers, also known as Banana Chiles, Sweet Banana Peppers, or Yellow Wax Peppers, are mild and elongated chile peppers. They typically measure around 4-6 inches in length and have a curved shape, resembling small bananas when fully matured. The peppers turn yellow when ripe, which explains their name. With a Scoville heat unit of 500 SHU, they offer a mild level of spiciness. These versatile peppers can be pickled, stuffed, and used fresh as garnishes or in salads [24].
Aji Dulce
The plant displays light green leaves and white flowers. The fruit, measuring 1.75 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, has a wrinkled appearance and changes color from green to orange and eventually red when ripe. It offers a sweet, spicy flavor akin to habanero but with minimal heat, rated around 100-500 on the Scoville scale [18].
Italian Pepperoncini
These bushy plants grow to 20 to 24 inches tall and bear 3- to 4-inch-long fruit, which can be either yellow or red. They thrive in summer shade and provide excellent protection against sun-scald. The fruit’s sweetness intensifies as it turns red. On the Scoville scale, they have a relative rating of 100-500 [18].
Jimmy Nardello’s
The fruit has a long, slender, and tapered shape, measuring approximately 6 to 9 inches in length. It was first cultivated in Ruoti, Italy. This sweet and crisp pepper variety is popularly used for frying. It has a relative Scoville rating of 0, indicating no spiciness [18].
Summary
Embark on a compelling journey through “Sweet Pepper Varieties,” where each pepper presents a unique taste symphony. From the versatile Bell Pepper’s vibrant hues to the heart-shaped Pimento Pepper’s sweet charm, each variety harmonizes on the palate. Savor the Cherry Pepper’s burst of sweetness and the Cubanelle Pepper’s gentle notes, adding depth to culinary creations. The Italian Pepperoncini dance with enchanting flavors, while the Shishito Pepper surprises with occasional twists. Embrace this medley of exquisite tastes, elevating your culinary journey and celebrating the diverse richness of nature’s offerings.
FAQ
What is considered a sweet pepper?
A sweet pepper refers to varieties of peppers that are non-pungent, meaning they have low to no levels of capsaicin, the compound responsible for the spicy or hot sensation. These peppers typically have a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) range of 0 to 700, offering a mild and pleasant flavor profile [21].
Is sweet pepper and bell pepper the same?
While "sweet pepper" and "bell pepper" are often used interchangeably to refer to the same type of pepper, it's important to note that several other non-pungent pepper varieties also fall into this category. Peppers like Banana Pepper, Shishito Pepper, Pimento Pepper, and others also offer a mild and sweet flavor profile, making them delightful additions to various dishes. So, when discussing sweet peppers encompasses not only Bell Peppers but also a diverse array of non-spicy peppers that harmonize beautifully on the palate and elevate culinary experiences [2] [24] [7] [12].
Why is bell pepper called sweet pepper?
Bell peppers are called "sweet peppers" because they have a mild and sweet flavor compared to other peppers containing capsaicin [2]. The absence of capsaicin in bell peppers results in their sweet taste, making it enjoyable to eat raw or cooked without the intense heat in other pepper varieties.
What is a sweet vs. hot pepper?
Sweet pepper is non-pungent and not spicy since it lacks capsaicin. With a mild and sweet flavor, sweet peppers are distinct from hot peppers that contain varying levels of capsaicin, resulting in a wide range of spiciness. Capsaicin levels are categorized using Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with sweet peppers falling under the non-pungent range (0–700 SHU), while hot peppers can be mildly, moderately, highly, or very highly pungent, with SHU levels ranging from 700 to over 80,000.
Is a sweet pepper spicy?
No, sweet pepper is not spicy. Sweet peppers do not contain capsaicin or contain very low concentrations of it. As a result, sweet peppers have a mild and sweet flavor with no spiciness [1]. They are entirely different from hot or spicy peppers, which have varying levels of capsaicin and can range from mildly to extremely spicy.
Are bell peppers sweet or spicy?
Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers, are sweet and not spicy. Bell peppers do not have capsaicin. As a result, bell peppers have a mild, sweet flavor, making them enjoyable to eat raw or cooked without any spiciness [2]. The color of bell peppers can vary, including green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown, and black, but all of these varieties are sweet and not spicy.